Sep 2 (TM) Urban Development Authority (UDA) has so far not received detailed plans and recommendations from authorities to develop the state-owned colonial property, Visumpaya, located in Union Place, Colombo. “We have still not received approval from a high-level committee on further initiatives,” UDA Deputy Director General E.A.C. Piyashantha said, with regards to the long-coming, proposed plans more..

Sep 2 (DM) Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar has said that a feasibility study is underway on a proposed tourism development project to connect Neduntheevu & Katchatheevu. He made the remarks during an observation visit to Katchatheevu yesterday, accompanied by the Prez. He said discussions were held with the Navy regarding the safety of local fishermen operating in the Katchatheevu area, the challenges they face, and upcoming development initiatives. more..

Sep 2 (AD) Popular rapper Madhawa Prasad, known by his stage name Maduwa, who was recently arrested with a fake pistol, has been taken into custody once again—this time for the possession of explosives. Officers seized three sticks of gelignite, five detonators, and 3.5 kg of ammonium nitrate from the suspect, said police. The rapper was previously arrested on Aug 25 with a fake pistol and later released on bail after being produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court. more..

Sep 2 (NW) Italy’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 3–5 Sept. According to SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is the highest-level incoming visit from Italy to Sri Lanka in almost a decade. During her visit, Deputy Minister Tripodi will co-chair, along with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, inaugural session of the SL–Italy Political Consultations. more..

Sep 2 (DM) MP Namal Rajapaksa said it would be beneficial for the UNP and the SJB to unite, noting that every govt in history has collapsed due to internal conflicts. He said his party has long urged unity between Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SJB, noting that politics should not be conducted by dividing people but should be free of hatred. Rajapaksa said the next presidential election is still far away, and the government must first address pressing issues facing the people. more..

Sep 2 (TM) SL govt’s total external debt stood at $ 37.1 billion at the end of first half of 2025, with a nominal reduction of $ 104 million from Q1 and total debt servicing of $ 952 million in Q2. The total govt debt remained unchanged at $ 102.6 billion by end of Q2, from the Q1 figures. Accordingly, external debt stood at $ 37.1 billion while domestic debt stood at $ 65.5 billion by the end of the June quarter. more..

Sep 2 (AD) Acting Director of the Police Cultural Division, SSP Sathish Gamage, who was arrested by the CIABOC has been further remanded, until Sept 16. The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate after considering the facts presented by officers of the Bribery Commission and the defense counsel. SSP Sathish Gamage was arrested and produced before court by the Bribery Commission in connection with allegations of accepting bribes amounting to approximately Rs. 14 million more..

Sep 2 (AD) Ambassador and Permanent Representative of SL to Thailand Edirisinghe has held discussions with the Director General of the Department of Employment of Thailand, Somchai Morakotsriwan to review progress on the proposed recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankans to Thailand under a Govt-to-Govt (G-to-G) mechanism. The discussion followed the Ambassador’s earlier courtesy call on the Minister of Labour of Thailand and the subsequent decision of the Thai Cabinet to more..

Sep 2 (PMD) The first coconut seed production unit in the Northern Province was inaugurated this morning in Pallai under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as part of the Northern Coconut Triangle Project. The initiative is being implemented as a collaborative programme between the Coconut Research Institute of SL and the Chilaw Plantations Company. Govt has planned to promote Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Mannar as more..

Sep 2 (PMD) The first phase of the national programme Dream Destination, which aims to renovate 100 railway stations across the country, was launched today at the Talpe Railway Station under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena. This initiative, implemented as a joint effort of the govt, private sector and the public, seeks to rebrand SL’s railway stations with a modern identity that aligns with international standards. more..

Sep 2 (NW) FSP has accused a group of NPP members of having forcibly taken control of its Office on Kirindiwala Road in Yakkala, Gampaha. It is reported that the NPP members had allegedly assaulted the persons at the office and later taken control of the property. A Police Officer at the scene informed FSP members that the NPP had filed a complaint with the Yakkala Police, stating that a court order had been received regarding the property. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed support for a series of initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus meeting in Tianjin. Herath stated that he had taken note positively of the Global Development, Security & Civilisation Initiatives, as well as the Global Governance Initiative. He said the proposals were grounded in the principles of sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred more..

Sep 2 (DM) SLPP has written to the Mahanayake Theras of the Asgiriya and Malwathu Chapters, expressing concern over what it alleges are govt attempts to oppress war heroes. In letters, SLPP General Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, the party accused the government of pursuing actions that undermine military personnel who fought to end terrorism in the country. While noting that terrorism ended 16 years ago, SLPP claimed the ideology behind it still exists. more..

Sep 2 (EN) Sri Lanka’s tax revenues grew 28.2% to 2,534 billion rupees in the seven months to July 2025, while the overall budget deficit was down 36% to 556.1 billion rupees. Non-tax revenues grew to 195 billion rupees from 179 billion rupees last year. Tax revenues improved to 8.3% of projected gross domestic product from 7.1% last year during the seven months. Total revenues grew 27.9% to 2,728.9 billion rupees up to July. more..

Sep 2 (CT) The CID has launched a probe into the purchase of chemical reagents worth over Rs. 2.5 billion, carried out as local procurements without the approval of the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) over the past three years for the laboratory of the National Hospital, Colombo. The investigation also covers the inclusion of expired or nearly expired reagents among the items purchased, according to the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA). more..

Sep 2 (NF) Dept of Motor Traffic is considering an increase in the fee charged for issuing temporary driver’s licenses to foreign nationals at the BIA, according to Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe. Currently, the fee stands at Rs. 2,000, but Amarasinghe says discussions are underway to revise the amount in line with service improvements and international standards. To streamline the process for tourists and business travelers, a dedicated counter has been set up at BIA, more..

Sep 2 (DM) The Port of Colombo reported a significant surge in container handling in July 2025, marking a strong rebound with a double-digit growth, driven by a robust recovery in transshipment volumes. This performance signals a positive turn for the port’s mid-year activities. Total container throughput for July reached 721,661 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a substantial 17.2% increase, compared to 615,727 TEUs more..

Sep 2 (FT) When former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe emerged from hospital after securing bail, he did not walk out empty-handed. In his grasp was Boris Johnson’s flamboyantly titled memoir, Unleashed: The Political Memoir of the Century. The symbolism was hard to miss. Johnson, like Ranil, straddled the uneasy line between charm and scandal — a leader celebrated for wit and survival, yet dogged by questions of truth, ethics, and accountability. The book, bold and playful in style, promises more..

Sep 2 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that focus is being placed on enhancing the quality of the agricultural sector by utilizing digital and innovative technologies. She made these remarks while addressing the International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2025 (ISAE) organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, Uni of Ruhuna, held today at the Galle Face Hotel. Theme of ISAE 2025, Driving Innovations in Agricultural Technologies for Climate Action & Sustainability, more..

Sep 2 (NW) A discussion was held today at the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development with the participation of state and private sector dairy manufacturers to explore ways of meeting Sri Lanka’s national milk requirement domestically and securing a foothold in the export market. The meeting focused on strategies to empower dairy farmers, support new entrepreneurs in the dairy sector, and strengthen marketing channels for dairy-related products. more..

Sep 2 (FT) For decades under British rule, the island’s money was governed by a Currency Board System, enacted under Ordinance No. 32 of 1884. While this system ensured currency stability, it constrained policy responses by tying the money supply directly to reserves, without any flexibility for nuance or support to growing domestic needs of a developing economy. Setting up the Central Bank of Ceylon was an initiative taken by SL’s Finance Minister at the time, J.R. Jayewardene. more..

Sep 2 (DM) Sri Lanka is seeking a conciliatory approach with the UNHRC this time under the NPP govt, with the promise to take steps for reconciliation and addressing allegations related to rights violations through a domestic mechanism with international assistance. The core group of countries led by the UK is expected to move a fresh resolution on SL during the session this month. Canada, Malawi, Montenegro & more..

Sep 2 (TM) The Police is in the process of identifying those who organised the protest outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 26 August, when the case involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was taken up, using closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage and intelligence reports, according to ASP F.U. Wootler. IGP, attorney Priyantha Weerasooriya recently said that investigations were underway to identify individuals who organised the protest in question. more..

Sep 2 (NW) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has alleged that former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa should be imprisoned for 400 years, citing what he described as severe acts of corruption during Rajapaksa’s 2010 regime. Speaking at an event, former Army Commander criticized successive SL leaders, claiming they lacked vision for national development. He contrasted them with int'l figures such as Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, and Rwanda’s Gen. more..

Sep 2 (EN) Multiple electric vehicle makers are offering lower output motors in SL for models which are sold with higher outputs in Australia and Thailand, and authorities are likely to test them as well. SL customs originally detained around 1,000 BYD Atto 3, vehicles with a 100kW motor rating after a complaint that the vehicle is sold with 150kW motor in other markets. Electric vehicle makers may reduce power output of vehicles for price more..

Sep 2 (ST) Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe who met with the United Nations SL Resident Representative Marc-Andre Franche expressed his displeasure over references to the AG’s Dept in the recently released report by the UN Human Rights Commissioner. Mr. Ranasinghe refuted the contents of the report at the meeting with the UN official this week and said a response to the reference to the conduct of the AG’s Dept has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be included more..

Sep 2 (FT) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe extended his gratitude to all those who supported him from the time of his arrest, marking his first public statement since being taken into custody. In a special video message released to the media, Wickremesinghe conveyed appreciation to the many individuals and groups who had expressed solidarity, both online and offline, during his arrest. “I am thankful to everyone who stood by me from the moment I was taken into custody. more..

Sep 2 (FT) National tea sale average for Aug 2025 registered Rs. 1,182.27 ($ 3.92) per kilogram, reflecting a month-on-month (MoM) increase of Rs. 54.67 and $ 0.18 compared to July’s average of Rs. 1,127.60 ($ 3.74). However, when measured against the Aug 2024 average of Rs. 1,188.49 ($ 3.95), the latest figure reflects a marginal year-on-year (YoY) dip of Rs. 6.22 and $ 0.03. For the cumulative period from Jan to Aug 2025, the national sale average stood at Rs. 1,156.37 ($ 3.87), more..

Sep 2 (DM) In an interesting turn of events, an employee of a funeral parlour in Nawalapitiya and another who parked a hearse with a body on board near business establishments had broken open them and taken away cash and valuables. They had used the hearse with a body inside to avoid any suspicion by passersby or the police. In the latest incident, they had entered a jewellery shop in Nawalapitiya town and taken away jewellery and the Data (DVR) in the CCTV camera system. more..

Sep 2 (DM) The committee on Housekeeping in Parliament has decided to appoint a team of officials to recommend proposals to enhance the safety of food and beverages served in the parliamentary cafeterias. The decision was made when the Housekeeping Committee met recently with Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in the chair. An official from the House said that the move is an initiative of the Speaker, who has been more..

Sep 2 (DM) An individual who robbed a woman of her necklace and swallowed it to avoid arrest was produced before Nawalapitiya Magistrate and remanded. The magistrate ordered the Prison officials to administer him purgatives and recover the necklace. The suspect had waylaid and robbed a woman of her necklace and her mobile phone and fled from the scene. However, Nawalapitiya Police, who initiated investigations, arrested the suspect, but he denied any involvement in the robbery. more..

Sep 2 (Island) SLT-MOBITEL is set to play a central role in accelerating Sri Lanka’s adoption of AI and digital technologies, following a strong financial recovery in the first half of 2025. Anchored by a decisive financial turnaround that delivered Rs. 4.3 billion Profit After Tax (PAT) in 1H 2025 compared to a loss of Rs. 323 million the previous year, SLT-MOBITEL is strongly placed to lead the development of critical digital infrastructure at a time when national capacity in AI, data systems, and more..